Howdy friends, and happy Monday! I’ll admit, Mondays are always rough, especially when they start off with a surprise meeting, but c’est la vie! I rewarded myself for a productive morning with a delicious salad of epic proportions:
Greens make me feel like a lean, mean, machine!
Today’s salad consisted of:
- Romaine lettuce
- Half a GIANT green pepper
- 2/3 of a small tomato
- Reduced fat mexican cheese mix
- Black beans
- Salsa
It is was DELICIOSO!! I wolfed it down like a ravenous were-Jordan. And now, onto the topic of the post.
My Best Friend’s Wedding!
My dress looks exactly like this.
No, definitely not the movie. THE REAL LIFE THING!!
My dearest friend, Caitlin (of Chicaito, her new blog!), who I’ve known officially longer than I have not, is marrying her college sweetheart and they’re starting a beautiful life as husband and wife in Chicago. When Caitlin asked me to be one of her Maids of Honor, it obviously wasn’t even a question, and I feel so honored to be a part of her magical day and all the things leading up to it!
Last month, we gathered in her hometown for the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party in Philadelphia.
Bride to Be Cait and her Co-MOHs Breanna and Jordan
It was an excellent weekend, and a great way to meet some of the bridal party who I’d never met before. Caitlin and I have been friends since FOREVER, but as we went to college 470 miles apart, we only got to see each other now and then during the past 6 years. We never lost touch, though, and every time we’re together, it’s just like we’re teenagers dancing at the All-Camp Dance at Camp Tockwogh.
That'd be our wedding photo... if Eamonn weren't in the picture, of course!
I will admit, I never knew what was involved in being a Maid of Honor, and it’s a whole lotta stuff that I’d never imagined. Who knew how many ways you could organize cupcakes on a table for a shower, or how many peen shaped accoutrements ther were for the bachelorette party. Not I!
Luckily I already had 4 tiaras for her to choose from...
All those hours of saying yes to marathons of Say Yes to the Dress, though, and the hours of looking at bridal sites are about to come to a head, as the nuptials are in less than 2 weeks!! I’m so excited to be a part of the big day, and you know I’ll be there with hankies in case she cries, a tiny sewing kit (that I will have no idea how to use) if she rips her dress, and a shot of vodka to get the party started.
That being said, getting prepared for the big stuff (standing next to her at the altar, giving a speech at the reception) is started to make me a little nervous! I haven’t given a big speech in a while and, as someone prone to tears, I really don’t wanna lose my cool and start bawling in front of a bunch of loved ones and strangers… I still feel like I’m that teenage girl getting ready to send her besty off to be with another best friend! I know no matter what happens, Caitlin will be happy and she won’t hold it against me if I break down into tears, but I just wanna make her day as special as possible!
Do you have any advice on how to be the best MOH in the world?
Have you ever been in a wedding? What was it like?
Whatever happens, I know we’ll have fun…. because honestly, when don’t we?
Food, Sweat, and Beers 
After being the bride, my only advice is to listen. There will be times when all she wants is to vent about what is going on (or what is not going on or what is wrong or what is right).On the big day, the best Maid of Honor will run interference between the bride and everyone else (trust me, I couldn’t believe how many people wanted me to do stuff that day). And finally, the best Maid of Honor will look at ALL of the photos after the wedding and tell the bride just how beautiful/perfect she and the wedding was. Good Luck!
1. I’m OBSESSED with Say Yes to the Dress. OBSESSED.
2. I’m MoHing for my BFF right now too, and it is CUH-RAZY. I do what I can to help when I can, and back off when I’m not wanted. I’m also trying to plan the best Bachelorette Party evaaaa, but it looks like you already did that 🙂
Have a great time at the wedding!
Ahhhhh well if you need any tips, lemme know!! It may not have been the best ever in anyone’s life, but DAMN we had fun!
Tips for the MOH:
-short speeches can be just as effective as long ones, share a fun but family friendly memory of the couple if you have one, and don’t make overly obscure jokes, people will be confused
-help the bride when she has to use the rest room!
-make sure to adjust her train/dress as she turns to do stuff on the alter, the photog will appreciate it
-if you’re holding the ring for her hubs, put it on your thumb
-if she hasn’t already provided an itinerary of the day, help her make one, it will allow you all to gauge timing on stuff
-wrap a hanky around your bouquet discreetly in case you (or the bride) starts the waterworks during the ceremony
I was the MOH in my sister’s wedding and a bridesmaid in one of my bff’s wedding. I had a lot of fun with both. 😀 I think you’ll do just fine.
YOU ARE SO WISE KRISSY, LIKE AN OWL OF WEDDINGS!!
Ahhh I just got super stoked even more so than before!
Aw that sounds great! I was a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding last summer and I loved it! Her MOH didn’t really have to do much though because her mom wanted to do most of it haha.
Luckily, her mom was able to rock out the bridal shower in order for us, who were both living super far away, to focus on the bachelorette party.
I’m just stoked to party with my best friends, and everyone will be happy!
Awww 🙂 Love this post. And CANNOT believe it is only 12 days away!
Thoughts from the bride:
– def. help me with dress for bathroom
-love idea about watching my train for pics
-have fun
-don’t stress about speech & it’s OK to cry! (as long as speech is still intelligible..ha)
love you. it will be GREAT. xo
Wahhhhhhh!!! (that was my speech. prepare for waterworks.)
being a MOH is such an honor! I’ve been one twice…yes a lot of planning goes into it but they trust you with making their day perfect and being there for every step!!
Wow, double MOH duty, that’s serious business!! I think this may be my only MOH duty until my baby sister gets married, but honestly… might be all I can handle!! Cheers to you for twice MOH status, that’s just baller.
OMG ive been asked to be a bridesmaid is 3 separate weddings next year (my cousin, and 2 of my best friends), and I have no clue what they heck I’m doing either! Seriously, you need to post your experiences so you can teach me haha
Oh, rest assured, I’ll be “that MOH” that is going to have to charge her camera between breakfast, manis and pedis, and lunch… I’ll be taking THAT MANY PICTURES!! Blogging every step of the way (or at least at the end…)
I say just do what the bride asks of you!!! And ALWAYS tell her that everything is going smoothly (even if it might not be…). She’s better off not knowing about all of the little things that might wrong.
Looks like you all will have loads of fun at the wedding!!!
Haha, that sounds like definite wisdom right there: Do what the bride says, make her happy.
simple and perfect.
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